Friday's letters: VA investigation

Published: Friday, July 11, 2014 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 10, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.

To the editor: The VA needs much more than just new leadership. An independent special prosecutor ought to be appointed to investigate whether having kept vets who died waiting for treatment to protect bonuses constitutes criminal behavior.

Harold Engelman

Hendersonville

A proven record

To the editor: The position of Register of Deeds is an important office. Land registration in North Carolina can be traced to the 1600s when the Lords Proprietors provided for the appointment of chief registers to serve as recording officers with many of the same responsibilities as present-day registers of deeds.

Lee King, a candidate for Register of Deeds for Henderson County in the 2014 second primary, appreciates the importance of those responsibilities. A native of Henderson County, Lee earned a master’s degree in public administration from Western Carolina University. He has 18 years’ experience in Henderson County government, the past eight years involving supervisory and budgetary experience in the collections section of the Tax Department. He frequently interacts with other county departments, including the office of the Register of Deeds, where he researches public records in pursuit of delinquent taxes.

Lee has a proven record in county administration. He has the education, experience, talent and personality to be a great register of deeds. I urge you to consider the importance of that office in the second primary on Tuesday, and cast your vote for Lee King for register of deeds.

Bob Staton

Mayor, Village

of Flat Rock

So divided

To the editor: Capitalism can destroy cities, town, countries and even the planet’s ecosystem. It does not have a conscience, so it has no feelings of guilt, nor does it care for those it hurts, kills or destroys.

I was talking Tuesday to a couple on Big Glassy about fracking. The man said we have the technology to be able to do the fracking safely if it is done right. There is the key. Capitalism could be fine if it is done right, i.e., fairly to all concerned.

We could say the same about socialism and perhaps even about a dictatorship if it/he/she is fair, kind, intelligent, knowledgeable, compassionate, etc. Of course, it would also depend upon the citizenry. If it is greedy, unruly, demanding, inconsiderate, etc., no ruler or system would be able to do the job.

In our situation, we can’t agree with “what is right.” Thus, no one can possibly serve this country “well.”

How will this country ever come together? We are so divided. You know the old saying, “Divide and conquer.” Well, we certainly are divided, and we are all set up for a takeover. How can we overcome such divisiveness so that we might save our country?

Don Keefauver

Hendersonville

Divisive tactics

To the editor: It’s time for a fresh pair of eyes.

I want to assume that politicians, regardless of affiliation, do their best to serve the public. The bliss of such ignorance has bought me some peace, until now. The current shift in priorities and subsequent legislation is revealing a movement that favors large corporations over citizens.

One of the practitioners manipulating this descent is Sen. Tom Apodaca. The cost of his efforts infects every aspect of a quality life here in North Carolina, from our schools, to our rivers, to our taxes.

I’m looking for change. This is an endorsement for Rick Wood, not just the man but also the hope he inspires that truth and community can replace exploitation and selfishness.

It can’t be a wish far flung to see our people, our environment and our political integrity respected. You don’t get there by bribing teachers, rolling back environmental protections until caught, offering big business the “right of way,” and creating a monopoly with the bail bondsman school. These tactics are detrimental and divisive.

Perhaps it’s the power of Apodaca’s position that allows him to believe he is not accountable to the people he serves. It’s time for a fresh pair of eyes.

<p>To the editor: The VA needs much more than just new leadership. An independent special prosecutor ought to be appointed to investigate whether having kept vets who died waiting for treatment to protect bonuses constitutes criminal behavior.</p><p><em>Harold Engelman</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>A proven record</h3>
<p>To the editor: The position of Register of Deeds is an important office. Land registration in North Carolina can be traced to the 1600s when the Lords Proprietors provided for the appointment of chief registers to serve as recording officers with many of the same responsibilities as present-day registers of deeds.</p><p>Lee King, a candidate for Register of Deeds for Henderson County in the 2014 second primary, appreciates the importance of those responsibilities. A native of Henderson County, Lee earned a master’s degree in public administration from Western Carolina University. He has 18 years’ experience in Henderson County government, the past eight years involving supervisory and budgetary experience in the collections section of the Tax Department. He frequently interacts with other county departments, including the office of the Register of Deeds, where he researches public records in pursuit of delinquent taxes.</p><p>Lee has a proven record in county administration. He has the education, experience, talent and personality to be a great register of deeds. I urge you to consider the importance of that office in the second primary on Tuesday, and cast your vote for Lee King for register of deeds.</p><p><em>Bob Staton</em></p><p><em>Mayor, Village</p><p>of Flat Rock</p><h3>So divided</h3>
<p>To the editor: Capitalism can destroy cities, town, countries and even the planet’s ecosystem. It does not have a conscience, so it has no feelings of guilt, nor does it care for those it hurts, kills or destroys.</p><p>I was talking Tuesday to a couple on Big Glassy about fracking. The man said we have the technology to be able to do the fracking safely if it is done right. There is the key. Capitalism could be fine if it is done right, i.e., fairly to all concerned.</p><p>We could say the same about socialism and perhaps even about a dictatorship if it/he/she is fair, kind, intelligent, knowledgeable, compassionate, etc. Of course, it would also depend upon the citizenry. If it is greedy, unruly, demanding, inconsiderate, etc., no ruler or system would be able to do the job.</p><p>In our situation, we can’t agree with what is right. Thus, no one can possibly serve this country well.</p><p>How will this country ever come together? We are so divided. You know the old saying, Divide and conquer. Well, we certainly are divided, and we are all set up for a takeover. How can we overcome such divisiveness so that we might save our country?</p><p><em>Don Keefauver</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Divisive tactics</h3>
<p>To the editor: It’s time for a fresh pair of eyes.</p><p>I want to assume that politicians, regardless of affiliation, do their best to serve the public. The bliss of such ignorance has bought me some peace, until now. The current shift in priorities and subsequent legislation is revealing a movement that favors large corporations over citizens.</p><p>One of the practitioners manipulating this descent is Sen. Tom Apodaca. The cost of his efforts infects every aspect of a quality life here in North Carolina, from our schools, to our rivers, to our taxes.</p><p>I’m looking for change. This is an endorsement for Rick Wood, not just the man but also the hope he inspires that truth and community can replace exploitation and selfishness.</p><p>It can’t be a wish far flung to see our people, our environment and our political integrity respected. You don’t get there by bribing teachers, rolling back environmental protections until caught, offering big business the right of way, and creating a monopoly with the bail bondsman school. These tactics are detrimental and divisive.</p><p>Perhaps it’s the power of Apodaca’s position that allows him to believe he is not accountable to the people he serves. It’s time for a fresh pair of eyes.</p><p><em>Neela Munoz</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>